The symbol

How grand the temple!

The four tall gate towers,

The great wall, the dance hall,

The gold plated flagmast and spire,

The bejeweled diadem of the Lord

And blare of the loud speakers.

People waiting in queue for ‘darsan’

Exclaim each other.

In the high school

Our first class in algebra.

We were taught how to find out

An unknown number employing symbols.

Exciting experience!

To be frank

Our hearts filled with admiration

For ‘X’ and ‘Y’

I ventured even to scribble

Verses extolling ‘X’ and ‘Y’.

Once during the class we saw

Furrows developing on the ash covered forehead

Of our aged teacher.

He was in thoughts.

He cautioned us

"Lads don’t be carried away by symbols;

You may lose sight of the Unknown!"

Neither we understood what he said

Nor bothered to seek the import.